DU re-opens… to uncertainty

What to expect on wednesday: Second and third year students are expected to have a “normal” day. Freshers,who have taken Humanities courses too,can breathe easy.

First year students,who have taken Science courses,are,however,likely to find timetables prepared according to the annual mode thrust into their hands post-orientation classes,if any. This is because DUTA has given a call for timetables to be prepared as per the annual system.

Teachers are not boycotting classes yet,and introductory classes will take place. Classes start at 8 am,and students are expected to carry admission receipts and passport-size photographs for the identity cards.

On Thursday and Friday: The court is expected to end the stalemate on Monday,but there there is no clarity as to what will be taught to Science students on the first three days of classes,and beyond. Most Science teachers,by their own admission,have not gone through the new syllabi. “I have decided to teach according to the old syllabus. I am not at all happy with what the university has done,keeping us all out of the loop,” said a faculty member of Acharya Narendra Dev College.

Some colleges are bracing themselves for a longer haul. “The teachers are going to put up the timetable according to the annual system tomorrow. I have requested my Science teachers to pick out the topics common to both annual and semester syllabi and teach them first so that we do not waste time,” said Ramjas Principal Rajendra Prasad.

Freshers’ Guide
Read On the controversy itself. Most students are unaware of the issues plaguing the university,and it would be a good idea to read up so that they would be able to contribute students’ voices to the debate.

Ragging Fend it. DU is doing all it can to help its freshers. Call the anti-ragging helpline of North Campus at 27667221 or South Campus at 24119832. The DU proctor can be contacted at 27667291 or Dean Students’ Welfare at 27667092. Thankfully,the university seems to have succeeded in attaching the “not-so-cool” tag to the practice,as political opposition to the issue shows.

Hostels It is estimated that nearly 3,000 students will be without a reasonable,reliable and safe place to stay thanks to the Commonwealth Games. Again,freshers are likely to be the worst-hit as the doors of many college hostels remain closed for them. Many students are still on the lookout for a good place to stay and are likely to keep looking through the first week of classes.